"A Federal jury has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Cottonwood Environmental Law Center against the Yellowstone Club, alleging that the Yellowstone Club has been discharging treated wastewater into the Gallatin River without a proper permit. For years, the Yellowstone Club has used treated wastewater from its private wastewater treatment plant to irrigate parts of its golf course, recycling the water."
"Over the last five years, several lawsuits have been filed by Cottonwood against various entities in the Big Sky area over water quality concerns, including the Yellowstone Club, Big Sky County Water and Sewer District, and Big Sky Resort. Cottonwood has yet to succeed in any of these challenges. Big Sky County Water and Sewer District told Explore Big Sky that it has spent roughly $3 million in legal fees over the last five years, depleting its cash reserves."
A federal jury dismissed Cottonwood Environmental Law Center’s lawsuit alleging Yellowstone Club discharged treated wastewater into the Gallatin River without a Clean Water Act permit. Yellowstone Club uses treated wastewater to irrigate parts of its golf course. Cottonwood filed multiple state and federal challenges claiming pollutant discharges and contributions to Gallatin River algae blooms, but those challenges have not prevailed. Big Sky County Water and Sewer District spent roughly $3 million in legal fees, depleting reserves and prompting rate increases. John Meyer was arrested in 2023 collecting downstream samples; the criminal case was dismissed and samples showed elevated nitrogen.
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